What is St Elmo’s Fire?

The weather phenomenon known as St Elmo’s fire has been described by many writers. The logs and memoirs of the early European explorers, on the voyages led by Columbus, Magellan and others, mention the peculiar ‘fire’ on their ships’ masts. Charles Darwin witnessed the lights during his time on the Beagle.

Descriptions of St Elmo’s fire have also found their way into works of fiction, including those of William Shakespeare and Herman Melville. Even classical writers, such as Pliny and Julius Caesar, have given us first-hand accounts of the spectacle. But what is St Elmo’s fire and how is it caused?

You can find the answer to this question at Scienceray.com by following the link below.

What is St Elmo’s Fire?
St Elmo’s fire is a familiar phrase to most of us (even if we ignore the film and song). But what is St Elmo’s fire and how is it caused?